An administrator wishes to create a complex RAID set for a high-performance database, where the value of the data far exceeds the cost of the drives. Which complex RAID level should be used?

Using RAID 10 is an excellent choice for a high-performance database where the importance of data integrity and performance outweighs the cost of drives. RAID 10 combines the advantages of both RAID 1 and RAID 0 by mirroring data across pairs of disks (RAID 1) and then striping it across those mirrored pairs (RAID 0).

This configuration offers several benefits that specifically address the needs of high-performance database applications. Firstly, RAID 10 provides redundancy; if one drive fails in a mirrored pair, the data remains accessible from the other drive, ensuring high availability. Secondly, the striping feature allows for better performance, as read and write operations can be distributed across multiple drives, effectively increasing throughput and reducing bottlenecks.

Furthermore, in scenarios where write-intensive operations are common, RAID 10 typically outperforms other RAID levels like RAID 5 or RAID 6 because it avoids the overhead associated with parity calculations. This makes it particularly suitable for applications where speed and data integrity are critical.

Overall, the characteristics of RAID 10 make it suitable for environments where both performance and redundancy are necessary, solidifying its status as the preferred choice for complex RAID configurations in high-demand scenarios.